RIVERS State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s granting of posthumous pardon and national honours to the Ogoni 13, saying the action is a monumental stride towards genuine reconciliation and enduring peace in Ogoniland and the state.
Fubara said action, which followed the unanimous ratification of the Council of State, was a long-awaited and courageous acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by the Ogoni people in their struggle for environmental justice and human rights.
Recall that a posthumous pardon was granted the Ogoni 9, including the renowned environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight others executed in 1995, for their “exemplary service to Nigeria and in particular to promote reconciliation within the Ogoni community,” while Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage and Theophilus Orage were awarded National Honours for their “patriotism to Nigeria and in particular to promote reconciliation within the Ogoni community.”
Fubara said the decision was more than a gesture, but a critical step in addressing the deep-seated, age-long demands of the Ogoni communities and will not only foster reconciliation and unity, but also serve as a catalyst for accelerating sustainable development across the state.
He reassured the President of the state government’s total commitment to working towards the full reconciliation of all Ogoni people, saying its the recognitions were sources of renewed hope and confidence within the communities.
The governor charged the people, especially Ogoni communities, to embrace the government’s action as a constructive mechanism to close ranks and look toward a future of collective progress, assuring them of government’s continued investment in the area as a demonstration of its unwavering commitment to their well-being.
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